Mark Inglis Makes the Impossible Seem Easy

byTessonMay 16, 2011

Mark Ingles worked as a search and rescue mountaineer in 1979 in New Zealand. Mark legs became severely frostbitten, in November 1982 while stuck in an ice cave on Aoraki/Mount Cook for thirteen days due to an intense blizzard. After being rescued both legs were amputated below the knee.

May 15, 2006, after forty days of climbing, Inglis became the first ever double amputee to reach the summit of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

Limbs 4 All, a charity started by Mark and his wife Anne to help some 400 million disabled people in the world.

Mark is a leading international motivational speaker, experienced in all forms of presentation from conference keynote addresses and workshops, to entertaining and humorous after dinner talks. He has presented live to audiences as small as five to as big as 1400 and everything in between.

Be inspired by watching Mark's video below!

What keeps you stuck in your comfort zone? What Big Thing do you want to accomplish? Are you willing to begin today? Please share with us below.

Also check out my friend, Angela Artimes, at Powered By Intuition, she'll tell what she did to finish her first book!

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Hello Tess! What a tremendous story Mark has. We all can certainly take a page from his book!
I think the ‘comfort’ in my comfort zone keeps me a little stuck. It’s effortless. I suppose it’s easier to chose dissatisfaction than to risk failing, or putting yourself out there, or making a big scary change. I’d like to make some major life changes in the next year or so, including re-locating, finding a more fulfilling way of living, etc. and I’m not that spontaneous and a bit of a planner so doing everything in exact order is important to me. I think when you’re at a cross road in life, deciding which way to go can be overwhelming and confusing, therefore we stand still. When I’m sure what my next step will be, I think it will be easier for me to budge.
Great site!
Best,
Amanda

Amanda,
There is nothing wrong with being a planner as long as you take action after you have your plan. I would advise you to reach out and get support for your new journey. It can be a friend, support group, a coach or a therapist. Good luck and let me do if I can do anything for you!

WOW!
Tess, this guy makes me feel like a complete wimp. I can’t imagine waking up without my legs. He is right though, the way to have a successful life is to embrace change. I love how he went to school to become a research scientist and then Wham – decided to become a winemaker. This was really inspiring.

I guess I can be the former business woman that now teaches people to use their intuition to create success in their lives – even with my legs!
Thank you for linking to my post too!

While climbing Mt. Everest isn’t on my top of anything list, I admire and respect those who conquer the mountain. A few years ago I heard Erik Weihenmayer speak at a conference. Erik is the only blind man to summit Mt. Everest (2001) and he’s the only blind man to have completed the quest for the Seven Summits.

That is a powerful story that inspires me to know that nothing is impossible. I can waste all the time I want to complaining but an amputee climbed Everest while I complain about climbing out of bed. What a change in perspective. There are several things I have wanted to do in my life but I put them off because of the fear of not knowing exactly how they would end. Well from this story I have learned a lot about climbing the ‘Everest’ in my life and it won’t start until I get the courage to start climbing. Great post Tess! Wow!

Mom, this is awesome! Mark’s remarks in his video remind me of the lessons you taught me early on. You and dad never allowed me to focus on the disadvantages of bring born without a hand, rather the advantages! I particularly like his comment on hoe being born with a disability will make my life easier in the long wrong. It’s funny how that is so true. The hardest part of my life was childhood. As far as comfort zone, I don’t think you need to worry about that with me! Remember, MT Kilimanjaro when I’m 40!!! You and me!!!! Remember???? Ok, Pete too!

This is one of the very powerful and inspiring stories that really puts things in perspective. Next time I’m having a pity party or don’t feel adequate about something I’ll remember this amazing story and shift my focus to be more empowered and less of a victim. Thanks for sharing!

I’ve not come close to climbing mountains like Mark but I’ve climbed many of my own over the last decade Tess. Now I scale another one – I’m leaving my home town of over 40 years to go….I don’t know. It’s time to move on even if there’s no particular place to go. I’ve busted all my comfort zones but I’m moving out and moving somewhere else. There are roads and signposts everywhere, one will have my name on it. I will remember Mark when my journeys get tough, he’s proved you can make it when it’s within you. Bless you Tess for always giving of your best….always!!!!

Wow, what an inspiring man, Tess. I love stories like this. For me, the most powerful message was that he just focused on the solution. He didn’t dwell on the fact that he no longer had legs (I’m sure that shift took some time, but he made it), and on what he could no longer do, but rather on what he could do next. He just didn’t let it stop him. It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we just stop looking at the problem and open ourselves up to the solution instead. I especially love how he’s now going out and teaching others how to have his attitude. What an inspiration!
Hugs,
Melody

Tess, this is pretty exceptional and 100% inspirational. I’m trying not to judge myself too harshly in comparison to Mark, but instead am using your words to guide me. What can I do to accomplish that big thing I’ve been wanting to? Well, I can stop making excuses and putting it off, for starters! If Mark can take one step at a time, so can I. I wonder if I could do it in 40 days? Hmm, sounds like a challenge I might be willing to make to myself.
Thanks for the nudge, Tess!

Wow, what a great story. Mark is an inspiration to all of us to imbrace change instead of running from it. Thank you Tess for sharing this story. We never know what change life is going to ask from us, but looking on the positive side always makes it the change better in the long run.
Thanks again, Debbie

How inspirational!! I love stories on people living well despite their challenges. It teaches us all how to live better – with appreciation, gratitude and an excitement for living and learning. We all need to focus on what we have, not what we don’t have.
Thank you for sharing this incredible story of this amazing person.

Take action. Not that easy to some people. Most because is easier to stay still. And because the unknown is scary. Well, but what makes you think like that but yourself ? I’m in favor of trying. Try ! Give it a shot ! As lots of people says, a “no”, you already have ! So, what will you lose by trying ?

Hey Tess,
Money and not enough of it has me stuck….I big accomplishment would be to be free from the worry and concern I feel each day. Maybe I just need a little more courage to take more chances and one day I may succeed.

Thanks so much for sharing this inspiring story. Mark shows us that there is no impossible. At any moment, we can get up and make great changes in our lives. I believe that every story like this spawns another– because someone else will realize that they too can do the impossible.